Maine high school jazz fest red hot and cool

Alex Burnett, a sophomore at Mount Desert Island High School, warms up on guitar before performing Saturday at the Maine State High School Instrumental Jazz Festival. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

SOUTH PORTLAND — The Mount Desert Island High School Big Group jazz ensemble was only a few bars into its opening number, “Baby Carrots,” when it became clear why the audience was standing-room-only at the Maine Music Educators Association’s Maine High School Instrumental Jazz Festival.

With the opening click, click, click of a drumstick, the 19-member ensemble pulled off a performance worthy of a Greenwich Village jazz club. At the end of their performance, audience members leapt to their feet to clap and hoot in appreciation.

Jazz winners

Following are the gold and silver winners from Friday’s competition:

Division I combos: gold, South Portland High School; silver, Greely High School

“B” multi combos: silver, George Stevens Academy

Division 2 combos: silver, Cape Elizabeth High School, Fryeburg Academy, Old Town High School

Division 3 combos: gold, Old Orchard High School, George Stevens Academy; silver, Bucksport High School

Multi jazz bands: silver, South Portland High School Jazz Band II

Following are the Big Jazz Bands awards from Saturday’s competition:

Division I

Gold: South Portland

Silver: Noble and Thornton Academy

Division II

Gold: Greely

Silver: Westbrook, Falmouth, Biddeford and Hampden

Division III
Gold: Old Town, Mount Desert Island and York

Silver: Fryeburg Academy

Division IV

Gold: Old Orchard Beach

Silver: George Stevens Academy, Maine Central Institute and John Bapst

The Mount Desert Island High School Big Group was one of 80 ensembles from 40 Maine high schools competing Saturday at the festival at South Portland High School. More than 2,000 people descended on the school for the two-day festival, which opened Friday, said Craig Skeffington, South Portland band director and chairman of instrumental jazz at the association.

The event draws spectators from across the state, and not just band parents. A contingent of eight students from Caribou High School drove five hours just to watch, not perform; they included juniors Owen Martin, 17, and Abigail Wimmer, 16, who said they were impressed by the Old Town High School Jazz Ensemble.

Owen gave them the best marks for the day so far because of their groove. Abigail said it was their depth.

“They had the most balance, and overall every piece was together,” Abigail said.

South Portland was not initially scheduled to host the event, but the original host school had to drop out. Skeffington said that despite the late notice, the festival went off without a hitch.

Each band had 25 minutes to win over the judges, who looked at factors such as the ability to play together and musical selection.

Some high schools have a strong jazz band tradition, which can be partly driven by the director, Skeffington said. Some music directors are more oriented to jazz than to concert or marching bands.

“And part of it is the kids and their work ethic. If the band has been good, they want to carry on that tradition,” Skeffington said.

About a half dozen Maine high schools consistently do well in national high school jazz competitions. At this year’s Berklee Jazz Festival in Boston, Cape Elizabeth High School placed second, South Portland and Mount Desert Island third, and Fryeburg Academy and Westbrook High School fourth, in their respective divisions.

On Saturday, Beth Chapman traveled from Old Town to hear her son, Alex Chapman, play alto sax with the Old Town High School Jazz Band. She said her son, a senior, has played since fourth grade and will probably continue in college.

“It is just a part of him now,” she said.

Evan Robbins, 15, of Cape Elizabeth, a freshman at Baxter Academy, was making his festival debut on the trombone with the school’s 12-member high school jazz band.

“It was the little band that could,” said his father, Tim Robbins.

Evan said he was nervous before the performance, but relaxed once on stage.

Here at MaineToday Media we value our readers and are committed to growing our community by encouraging you to add to the discussion.

To ensure conscientious dialogue we have implemented a strict no-bullying policy. To participate, you must follow our Terms of Use. Click here to flag and report a comment that violates our terms of use.